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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: branch · lie · toast · can · mouse · saw · bore · staff

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bore — to tire
  3. can — a tin
  4. staff — a stick
  5. can — a tin
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. lie — to recline
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bore — to drill
  14. branch — a division
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. staff — employees
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. toast — bread
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. can — to be able to
  24. staff — employees

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com